Miniature rose plant named Foutwist (Lemon Twist)

ABSTRACT

The subject of the present disclosure is a new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant characterized by bright yellow buds and flowers of good substance and keeping qualities.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of hardy,dwarf, bush type rose plant of the miniature class: the variety beingprimarily characterized -- as to novelty -- by bright yellow (near LemonYellow 4/1) buds and flowers, the general color effect being brightyellow.

The variety is further characterized by:

An abundance of bloom, with flowers, on mature plant, borne both singlyand several together in loose spray or cluster.

Light tea fragrance.

A plant which is vigorous, of rounded, somewhat upright shape withsemi-glossy, small foliage with pointed leaflets; the buds and flowersbeing similar in form to Starina (Miniature -- U.S. Plant Pat. No.2,646-- expired).

The plant, which has a normal height of 14 inches or more, can easily bemaintained at lesser height by occasional trimming.

A plant which grows and blooms satisfactorily both in greenhouse andoutdoors; is good for growing in pots; and provides excellent gardendecoration as well as cut flowers.

The present variety of miniature rose was originated by me at FourSeasons Rose Nursery, located at Bakersfield, California, underconditions of careful control and observation, as a cross between GoldBadge (Floribunda -- U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,625) as the seed parent andGreat Day (Miniature -- U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,358) as the pollen parent.

Subsequent to origination of the variety I successfully reproduced it atmy nursery, located as aforesaid, by budding as well as by cuttings; thereproductions have run true in all respects.

The color photograph illustrates the variety, including the foliage,buds, and flowers.

Referring now specifically to the new and distinct variety of roseplant, the following is a detailed description thereof in outline; allmajor color plate identifications being by reference to the BritishColour Council Horticultural Colour Chart, except where common terms ofcolor definition are employed.

Type: Hardy; dwarf; bushy; rounded; upright; seedling; greenhouse;outdoors; cut flowers; garden decoration.

Class: Miniature.

International identification.--Variety: Foutwist.

Commercial synonym.--Lemon Twist.

Flowers borne: Often singly but also in loose sprays of 3 to 5 or moreon slender wirey stems.

Quantity of bloom: Abundant both outside and in greenhouse.

Bud:

Peduncle.--Average length; slender but sturdy; erect; medium green.

Hairs.--Few or none.

Before calyx breaks; size.--Small. Form long; pointed with several smallfoliaceous apendages and several very small hairs on surface of bud;with foliaceous parts extending beyond the tip of the bud equal toone-half or more to its length.

Color.--Medium green (near Lettuce Green 861/1 or lighter). As calyxbreaks, color -- yellow (near Aureolin Yellow 3/1)

Opening.--Opens well in all weather.

Bloom:

Size when fully open.--Small, averaging about 35-40 mm (11/4 to 11/2).

Petalage.--Double -- averaging from about 30 to 45 petals arrangedregularly (more double than Great Day, its paternal parent), plus oftenseveral small petaloids.

Form.--High centered (more so than Great Day, its paternal parent), thenbecoming more rounded with petals reflexing outward, and, later atmaturity, folding or quilling to points (resembling a star as it opens,whereas Great Day does not). Open flowers may show stamens.

Petals: Fairly thick (heavier substance than Great Day, the paternalparent, and not as thick as Gold Badge, the maternal parent), velvety oninside and satiny on outside surface.

Shape.--Outside petals, broad lanceolate with acute tip; intermediate --broad lanceolate with acute tip; inside -- lanceolate with acute tip.

Color: Newly opened flower from a plant grown in plastic greenhouse(March, 1989), Bakersfield, Calif.

Outside petal.--Outside surface -- ranging from near Aureolin Yellow 3/1to near Lemon Yellow 4/1 on entire surface. Inside surface -- near LemonYellow 4/1.

Intermediate petal.--Outside surface similar to outside petal. Insidesurface -- similar to outside petal.

Inner petal.--Outside surface -- similar to intermediate petal. Insidesurface -- similar to intermediate petal. General color effect; newlyopened flowers -- bright yellow (near Lemon Yellow 4/1). Three days open-- ages slightly lighter on outer half or 2/3 of petal near tip -- colornear Lemon Yellow 4/2. Behavior -- opens well in all weather. Spentpetals usually do not drop off. Flower longevity (March 1989) -- plantin pot -- 4-5 days or longer. Cut flowers at living room temperature 4-5days.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.--Numerous (approximately 60) arranged regularly about pistils.

Filaments.--Varying length, short to medium, yellow.

Anthers.--Golden Yellowish (deeper color than those of Great Day, itspaternal parent)

Pollen.--Not Abundant (less than that of Great Day, its paternalparent).

Pistils.--(Not as abundant as those on Great Day, its paternal parent,and slightly shorter).

Styles.--Fairly even; short length; bunched; color -- light yellow.

Ovaries.--All enclosed in calyx.

Hips.--Few in number, ball shaped, light orange.

Sepals.--Permanent; long and spear shaped; recurved against peduncle.

Seed.--Few.

Foliage:

Leaves.--Compound of five (sometimes three or seven) leaflets; small tomedium; leathery; semi-glossy.

Leaflets.--Shape: broad, lanceolate; apex acute; base rounded (sometimesacute). Margin serrate.

Color.--Medium green (near Spinach Green o960/1 or lighter); new growth-- normal (medium) green (near Spinach Green o960/1 or lighter).

Rachis.--Medium strength; upperside usually quite smooth, grooved;underside sparsely thorny (very small) with few or no tiny prickles.

Stipules.--Short to medium length; narrow to medium width; short length;narrow points which turn out usually at about 45 degrees.

Disease resistance: Better than average resistance to rose diseasesmildew and blackspot.

Growth:

Habit.--Dwarf; very bushy; rounded to upright; much branched.

Growth.--Free, vigorous; internodes short.

Canes.--Medium slender; sturdy.

Main Stems.--Color: medium green.

Thorns.--Moderate amount. Prickles -- moderate.

Branches.--Color: medium green. Thorns: moderate. Prickles: few to none.Hairs: none.

The miniature rose plant and its flowers as herein described may vary inslight detail due to climatic, soil, and cultural conditions under whichthe variety may be grown; the present description being of the varietyas grown at Bakersfield, Calif.

The following is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant of hardy, dwarf, very bushy, rounded to upright, muchbranched habit; substantially as illustrated and described,characterized by buds and flowers of bright yellow (near Lemon Yellow4/1 or similar); the bud and flower resembling the variety Starina (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 2,646) in form; and further characterized by a plant ofvigorous and compact growth habit, said plant being more bushy andcompact than Great Day (its paternal parent), with flowers beingslightly smaller, of greater average petalage, and more abundant than onGreat Day; easy to propagate from cuttings or by budding, with anabundance of small to medium size semi-glossy foliage (color nearSpinach Green o960/1 or lighter) and an abundance of flowers borne bothsingly and in loose clusters of 3 to 5 or more.